Washing machine coupling with external bleed



Nov. 20, 1962 5. J. SHAMES ETAL 3,064,678

WASHING MACHINE COUPLING WITH EXTERNAL BLEED Filed Nov. 2, 1959 f I Jg %4750 r m2 154 r52 lNl/ENTORSI k %fldm D By ATTORNEYS.

'llnieti tat 3,064,678 WASHING MACHINE COUPLING WITH EXTERNAL BLEED Sidney J. Shames, 19 Agnes Circle, and Harold Shames, Agnes Circle, Ardsley, N.Y. Filed Nov. 2, 1959. Ser. No. 850,231 3 Claims. (Cl. 137-562) This invention relates to a combination coupler, and more particularly relates to a coupler adapted "both for connection to a water-utilizing appliance and for dispensing potable Water therefrom.

Couplings are presently used for the connection of a portable dish-washing machine, or other water-utilizing appliance, to a faucet in a kitchen, and usually such a coupling is arranged so that the used-water being discharged from the Water-utilizing appliance is discharged into a sink below the faucet.

As has heretofore been pointed out in our co-pending application, Serial No. 840,554, filed September 17, 1959, now Patent No. 3,011,725, granted December 5, 1961,

lthere exists a problem that, when disconnecting the coupler from the source of liquid under pressure, there is provided a pressure condition which could result in back flow of water under pressure from the coupler, so that such pressurized water would tend to squirt in unrestrained-manner when the coupler is disconnected from the source of liquid.

In our said co-pending application we have also disclosed the utilization of a bleed means within the coupler for selectively relieving the pressure of water contained in the supply portion of the coupler prior to the disconnection of the coupler from the source of liquid, so as to avoid the said problem incident to uncontrolled discharge of Water from the coupler when the coupler is being removed from the source of liquid under pressure. However, in our said co-pending application, the bleed water is discharged through a portion of the coupling through which the usedwater from the Water-utilizing appliance is also discharged into the sink below the faucet to which the coupler connects.

It will be understood that when a dish-washing machine or other water-utilizing appliance is being used in a kitchen with a coupler attached to the faucet, the faucet is thereby occupied, so that in the event a person wants to take a drink of water, he is unable to do so unless he uncouples the coupler from the faucet. The provision of a bleed means, as disclosed in our co-pending application, might appear, at first blush, to provide a satisfactory means for bleeding drinking water from the coupling which could be captured in a drinking glass or the like. However, the discharge of bleed water from the coupling of our co-pending application causes the water to pass through a portion of the coupling which is generally used as part of the discharge means for the used-water from the appliance, and this would result in a possibly unsanitary condition which is the purpose of the invention of this application to avoid.

Accordingly, the object of this invention is to provide a coupler for use with an appliance, which coupler is provided with bleed means to both prevent squirting of Water therefrom when the coupler is disconnected from the source of liquid under pressure and at the same time provide a sanitary bleed means for providing potable water in the event that a person wishes to have a drink of water while the coupler is connected to the faucet.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical axial cross-section view showing one form of a coupler constructed in accordance with this invention and illustrating a faucet aerator to which the coupler is adapted to connect, the faucet aerator being at a discharge terminus of a faucet in a kitchen, or the like;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical fragmentary cross-section view of a modified construction of a portion of the device shown in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a vertical axial cross-section view of another form of coupler constructed in accordance with this invention.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG- URE l a faucet aerator generally indicated at 10, which would normally be provided at the discharge end of a kitchen faucet or the like, and which is provided with groove means 12 in the casing thereof adapted to receive therein coupling elements of a faucet coupler of the type disclosed in our co-pending applications, Serial No. 655,679, filed April 29, 1957, now Patent No. 2,954,936, granted December 4, 1960, and Serial No. 840,554, filed September 17, 1959. The coupler itself is generally in dicated at 14 and includes a casing body 16, the upper end of which is provided with coupling elements adapted to connect the coupling body 16 to an appropriately shaped Water discharge device, such as may be provided by an exteriorly grooved faucet spout, or as provided by the exteriorly grooved aerator 10 seen in FIGURE 1.'

While the details of connection of a coupling of the type shown at 14, and the cooperation thereof with an aerator of the type shown at 10, are more fully described in our co-pending applications, for the complete dis closure of the coupling of this invention, it is pointed out that the coupling body 16 defines at the upper end thereof a female socket 18 for receiving therein the discharge end of a source of water under pressure. Adjacent the upper end of female socket 18 the coupling body 16 is equipped with ball-coupling elements 20, adapted to cooperate with the recessed groove in a male coupling part, such as groove 12 in aerator 10. The coupling balls 2! are positioned in tapering recesses and the balls 20 protrude radially inwardly a distance sufficient to enter recess- 12 to effect desired coupling between the parts. The balls 20 are normally pressed inwardly by a selectively retractable sleeve 24 that is spring-biased by coil spring 26 to the position normally seen in FIGURE 1. Coupling body 16 carries a removable snap ring 28, which limits the retractability of the sleeve 24; and the shape of sleeve 24 is such that, While permitting retraction of balls 20 to permit coupling, the balls 20 are at all times retained in recesses 22.

The coupling body 16 is provided, at the lowermost portion of female socket 18, with an internal annular shoulder 30, which supports thereon an apertured spider 32 through which water freely passes, and the spider 32 has a central portion from which extends an upwardly protruding stem 34, the purpose of which is more fully set forth and disclosed in our said co-pendirig applications;

Downstream or below the apertured spider 32 there is provided a fresh-water flow channel, or chamber, 36 for receiving water from the source to which the coupling connects. Opposite portions of the coupling body 16 define a pair of threaded apertures 38 and 40 which open to the fiow channel 36. The first threaded aperture 38 provides a threaded socket adapted for connection to a conduit or hose (not shown), which conveniently carries fresh water from the coupler 14 to a water-utilizing appliance. The lower end of coupler 14 below channel 36 is bored and tapped at 42 to provide means for relea's'ably connecting a hose gripping means or hose supporting element, such as screw 44, thereto, said hose gripping means being adapted to secure to coupler 14 the discharge end of a used-water-discharging hose, which brings used-water from the wa ter-utilizing appliance back to the sink, so that the used-Water will discharge from the used-water line into the sink substantially below the source of liquid to which the coupler 14 connects.

A specific construction for the discharge end of a discharge hose, while per se forming no part of this invention, is illustrated in FIGURE 1, where the discharge end of the discharge hose is shown at DH emptying into the lower recessed discharge portion DP of an integral moulded fitting, of rubber or the like, which fitting also defines an upwardly opening socket portion SP into which the lower end of coupler 14 is slip fit. The outer periphcry of socket portion SP is hexagonal, and a pair of apertures SA are provided through opposite Walls thereof adapted for alignment with the threaded apertures 38 and 40 to permit of coupling of the fresh water hose and bleed valve, hereinafter described, to the coupler 14. The divider wall DW between socket SP and discharge portion DP is adapted to engage the lowermost side of coupler 14. The wall DW is apertured to accommodate the shank of screw 44, and the head of screw 44 clamps portions of rubber wall DW against coupler 14 to effect a seal against leakage through tapped hole 42. In the event that hole 42 does not extend through to channel 36, then there would be no leakage through bore 42 to guard against.

Connected to the coupler 14 through the means of the screw-threaded aperture 40 is a selectively actuatable Water bleed means generally indicated at 50. The water bleed means 50 comprises an elongated bleed body 52 which has a threaded end 54 for connection of the body 52 to the coupling body 16. The elongated body 52 has a longitudinal bore 56 therethrough, and there is also provided a transverse bore 58 which communicates with the longitudinal bore 56 and which opens downwardly through the bleed body 52 at a point spaced laterally from the coupling body 16.

There is provided a valve in valve body 52 for selectively controlling the flow of water through the bleed means. This valve includes an elongated valve stem 60 which is reduced over a greater portion of its length, so that the reduced "portion of stem 60 is spaced from the wall of bore 56 to define an annular liquid flow passageway 62 therebetween which communicates with the transverse bore 58. The length of stem 60 is such that it extends beyond the ends of bleed body52.

, The valve stem 60 has an enlarged valve head 64 defined at one end thereof and which is annularly grooved to carry therein a seal means, such as an O-ring '66 or the like, which is positioned to seat and seal against a frusto-conical valve seat 68 formed on the valve body 52 at the end of the body 52 which is secured to coupling 14. The other end of valve stem 60 is enlarged and effects sliding connection with a portion of the bore 56 of valve body 52, and said valvestem is annularly recessed at 70 to receive therein sealing means, such as O-ring 72, for sliding and sealing engagement with the walls of bore 56 of the valve body 52 at points spaced further from coupling body 16 than the spacing of transverse bore 58 from body 16. The portion of valve stem 60 which extends outwardly of valve body 52 and distally of body 16 is provided with a reduced stud 74 upon which is mounted a manual control 76. A central portion of control 76 abuts a shoulder on stem 60 and a peripheral wallportion is of an axial length to overlap a portion of valve body 52, as seen in FIGURE 1. A short coil spring 78 is interposed between the extended terminus of bleed body 52 and the manual control 76 .to normally bias the valve head 64 toward sealing ento be discharged laterally of the region in which the used 7 water is discharged below the coupling 14. The bleed valve 50 thus provides a selectively actuatable water bleed means for either selectively delivering potable water laterally of the coupling body 16, or for selectively re lieving excess water pressure in body 16 and flow channel 36 prior to disconnecting the coupling from the source of liquid.

In the preferred embodiments shown in FIGURES l and 2, the potable water that is discharged through pas= sageway 5B is caused to pass through anti-splash means which provides that the water being discharged emanates in a uniform and soft stream. In FIGURE 2 the anti= splash means is in the form of an annular nozzle ;82' which is screw-threaded into passageway 58. A gasket means 84 is provided to prevent leakage around the joint.

The anti-splash nozzle 82 is of very simple construction and includes an initial flow passageway 86 which empties into an enlarged passageway 88, and an anti-splash screen 90 is provided across the passageway 88 and is held in position against shoulder 92 by means of a split snap ring 94.

The preferred form of anti-splash means is shown in the form of an aerator generally indicated at 96, in FIG- URE 1. In said FIGURE 1 there is provided an adapter 98 that is screw-threaded into passageway 58, and a sealing gasket 160 is provided between bleed body 52 and the upper portion of adapter 98. A male-threaded aerator 102, of a type generally made in accordance with our US. Patent 2,767,264, is screw-threaded to the adapter 98, and a gasket means 104 is provided as required, as is well known in the art. The aerator 102 discharges an aerated non-splash stream of potable water in fa stream of uniform profile as is desired in most house- In this modified form of device shown in FIGURE 3, the parts shown in FIGURE 3 which correspond with parts heretofore described in FIGURE 1 are identified with the same numeral and a prime mark, thereby indicating similarity to the elements heretofore described in the discussion of FIGURE 1. In FIGURE 3, there is a modification in the bleed valve means, in that the down wardly extending discharge passageway 58' is not threaded, and provides a stream-forming discharge orifice through which the bleed Water emanates. The entire bleed valve 50' is substantially shortened, thereby rhoving the discharge passageway 58' closer to the coupler body 16', and reducing the size of the valve stem 60' and of the bleed body 52. In addition to these noted variat1o ns, the valve body 16' includes a downwardly proectmg extension which is appropriately shaped to define a used-water passageway which terminates in a downwardly facing discharge orifice 152. The coupler body 16 is provided with a laterally opening, threaded, orifice 154 which is adapted to be connected to the end of a hose, or other conduit, which returns use'd water from the water-utilizing appliance to the coupler body 16, so that the used water will be discharged from the coupler body 16 downwardly into the sink positioned below the faucet to which the coupler 14 is adapted to connect. There is also illustrated in FIGURE 3 that an anti-turbulence stem 156 is provided screw-connected to coupler body 16', and projecting into passageway 150 to assist in reducing irregularities in the used-water flow being discharged from the coupler 14. 7

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of this invention, it 'will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall Within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. An appliance coupling adapted for connection to a source of liquid under pressure, said coupling comprising, in combination: elongated, upright body means defining at the upper end thereof an upwardly opening receiving aperture adapted to receive liquid under pressure, coupling elements on said body means adapted for selectively connecting the body means to a source of liquid under pressure, said body means also defining a laterally opening liquid-delivery orifice, a laterally opening discharge-receiving orifice, and, at the lower end of said elongated body means, a downwardly opening couplingdischarge orifice that is always open to atmosphere; said body means defining a first flow passageway means communicating water under pressure from said receiving aperture to said liquid-delivery orifice, and a second flow passageway means separate from said first flow passageway means communicating said discharge-receiving orifice with said coupling-discharge orifice that opens to atmosphere; and bleed-valve means for selectively delivering potable pressurized water from said first flow passage way means or for selectively relieving excess water pressure in said first flow passageway means while the appliance coupling is connected to a source of liquid and for discharging said bled water to atmosphere in a stream that is directed downwardly and which issues at a region spaced laterally of said upright body means and located at a level above said downwardly opening coupling discharge orifice, said bleed-valve means including an elongated tubular part carried by said body means at a point spaced between the upper and lower ends of said body means and projecting transversely from said body means, said tubular part defining at the edge of one end thereof a laterally facing valve seat means that is located within the confines of said body means and is exposed to the liquid pressure obtained in said first flow passageway means, a selectively laterally movable bleed-valve member exposed to the liquid pressure that obtains in said first flow passageway means so that said pressurized liquid in the first flow passageway means assists in normally seating said bleed-valve member with the pressure against said valve seat means, and said elongated tubular part defining an elongated bleed-flow passageway means that communicates at one end with said valve seat means and providing a downwardly facing opening therein to atmosphere in a region spaced laterally of said body means and at a level spaced above said coupling discharge orifice, and said bleed-valve member being selectively movable laterally against the liquid pressure to a position away from said valve seat means, so as to selectively communicate the first flow passageway means past the valve seat means to said bleed-flow passageway means.

2. An appliance coupling adapted for connection to a source of liquid under pressure, said coupling comprising, in combination: elongated, upright body means defining at the upper end thereof an upwardly opening receiving aperture adapted to receive liquid under pressure, coupling elements on said body means adapted for selectively connecting the body means to a source of liquid under pressure, said body means also defining a laterally opening liquid-delivery orifice, a laterally opening discharge-receiving orifice, and, at the lower end of said elongated body means, a downwardly opening coupling-discharge orifice that is always open to atmosphere; said body means defining a first flow passageway means communicating water under pressure from said receiving aperture to said liquid-delivery orifice, and a second fiow passageway means separate from said first fiow passageway means communicating said discharge-receiving orifice with said coupling-discharge orifice that opens to atmosphere; bleed-valve means for selectively bleeding potable pressurized liquid from said first flow passageway means while the appliance coupling is connected to a source of liquid and for discharging potable liquid to atmosphere in a stream that is directed downwardly and which issues laterally of said upright coupling body means and located at a level above said downwardly opening coupling-discharge orifice, said bleed-valve means including an elongated tubular part carried by said body means at a point spaced between the upper and lower ends of said body means and projecting transversely from said body means, said tubular part defining at the edge of one end thereof a laterally facing valve seat means that is located within the confines of said body means and is exposed to the liquid pressure obtained in said first flow passageway means, a selectively laterally movable bleedvalve member exposed to the liquid pressure that obtains in said first flow passageway means so that said pressurized liquid in the first flow passageway means assists in normally seating said bleed-valve member with the pressure against said valve seat means, bleed-flow confining means communicating with said valve seat means and defining a longitudinal bleed-flow passageway which communicates with a transverse bore defined in said confining means and which opens downwardly to atmosphere at a region located laterally outwardly of said coupling body and at a level spaced above the couplingdischarge orifice, an elongated valve stem for cont-rolling said bleed-valve member positioned to extend longitudinally in said longitudinal bleed-flow passageway, a manual control on said valve stem, and seal means on said valve stem positioned to slidably and sealingly engage said bleed-flow confining means at points within said tubular part spaced farther from said coupling body than the spacing of said transverse bore from said coupling body.

3. An appliance coupling adapted for connection to a source of liquid under pressure, said coupling comprising, in combination: elongated, upright body means defining at the upper end thereof an upwardly opening receiving aperture adapted to receive liquid under pressure, ball-type coupling elements carried on said body means adjacent the upper end thereof and adapted for selectively connecting the body means to a source of liquid under pressure, said body means also defining a laterally opening liquid-delivery orifice, a laterally opening dischargereceiving orifice, and, at the lower end of said elongated body means, a downwardly opening coupling-discharge orifice that is always open to atmosphere; said body means defining a first flow passageway means communicating water under pressure from said receiving aperture to said liquid-delivery orifice, and a second flow passageway means separate from said first flow passageway means communicating said discharge-receiving orifice with said coupling-discharge orifice that opens to atmosphere; and bleed-valve means for selectively delivering potable pressurized water from said first flow passageway means or for selectively relieving excess water pressure in said first flow passageway means while the appliance coupling is connected to a source of liquid and for discharging said bled water to atmosphere in a stream that is directed downwardly and which issues at a region spaced laterally of and located at a level above said downwardly opening coupling discharge orifice, said bleed-valve means including a laterally facing valve seat means that is located within the confines of said body means and is exposed to the liquid pressure obtained in said first flow passageway means, a selectively laterally movable bleed-valve member exposed to the liquid pressure that obtains in said first flow passageway means so that said pressurized liquid in the first fiow passageway means assists in normally seating said bleed-valve member with the pressure against said valve seat means, and elongated bleed-flow passageway means communicating at one end with said valve References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,505,492 Reddig a Aug. 19, 1924 8 Shaffer Mar. 6, Van House Aug. 28, Snyder Aug. 27, Goodrie Oct. 5, Landreth Sept. 25, Kolbe June 2,

FOREIGN PATENTS Australia Mar. 6, Great Britain Aug. 9, 

